Blue Heron Golf Course
About
Blue Heron Golf Course, formerly known as Carnation Golf Course, first opened in 1967 but underwent a major renovation, in addition to the name change, after it was bought in 2011. Located in the Snoqualmie Valley, the course would occasionally be overrun by the Snoqualmie River but thanks to improved drainage and irrigation features added in the renovation, the course is able to drain remarkably fast. At just a few yards shy of 6,000 yards, Blue Heron G.C. is on the shorter side but that is no indication of its level of difficulty. Golfers will face a variety of challenges including an abundance of bunkers strategically placed throughout. One of the toughest holes is the par-5 17th, which is a blind tee shot where a long iron might come in more handy than a driver.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 72 | 5940 yards | 67.9 | 113 |
| Blue (W) | 72 | 5940 yards | 73.6 | 123 |
| White | 72 | 5454 yards | 65.7 | 109 |
| White (W) | 72 | 5454 yards | 70.9 | 120 |
| Red | 72 | 4555 yards | 61.9 | 98 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 4555 yards | 65.6 | 106 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue M: 67.9/113 | 300 | 172 | 395 | 191 | 308 | 321 | 483 | 136 | 507 | 2813 | 484 | 335 | 434 | 236 | 349 | 147 | 379 | 460 | 303 | 3127 | 5940 |
| White M: 65.7/109 W: 70.9/120 | 291 | 143 | 395 | 141 | 260 | 305 | 448 | 106 | 448 | 2537 | 458 | 321 | 385 | 207 | 333 | 133 | 361 | 432 | 287 | 2917 | 5454 |
| Red M: 61.9/98 W: 65.6/106 | 266 | 123 | 314 | 111 | 228 | 259 | 387 | 81 | 382 | 2151 | 401 | 224 | 330 | 155 | 295 | 101 | 269 | 388 | 241 | 2404 | 4555 |
| Handicap | 11 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 16 | |||
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, RestaurantAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2016 #7)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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this is a typical green Photo submitted by u314160491576 on 09/03/2024
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Photo submitted by QTBRWJciUUdJhTPcEF2P on 08/19/2024
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Photo submitted by duncanrhack on 08/10/2024
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“Greens” Photo submitted by mwonks on 08/07/2024
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Photo submitted by BigEStein on 04/21/2024
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Photo submitted by BigEStein on 04/21/2024
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Photo submitted by u314159403530 on 08/28/2023
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Photo submitted by peter2023 on 07/28/2023
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Photo submitted by peter2023 on 07/28/2023
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Photo submitted by jackalan1 on 06/09/2023
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Photo submitted by jackalan1 on 06/09/2023
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Photo submitted by u000004002745 on 05/21/2022
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Photo submitted by GregRomanoff on 10/23/2020
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Photo submitted by u000005694710 on 02/26/2020
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Photo submitted by u000005694710 on 02/26/2020
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#9 Photo submitted by u000005694710 on 02/24/2020
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Nice Photo submitted by u000005694710 on 02/24/2020
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Beautiful day. Photo submitted by u000005694710 on 02/24/2020
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Photo submitted by u000005694710 on 02/24/2020
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Photo submitted by Cliff5417169 on 08/18/2015
Blue Heron is a Great Value
New ownership transformed this course into a very playable, and enjoyable experience. They fixed the flooding problem that used to make it unplayable in winter and spring. Now it's dry and very well maintained. They changed the course layout
and there are several interesting and challenging holes. This course is for all skill levels. The clubhouse is new and includes a wonderful restaurant and bar for inside dining or on the large deck overlooking the course. I have to travel 15 miles to play here but it's worth the drive. The entire staff is very friendly.
Back 9 closed
Back 9 closed since last Sunday. Greens were not cut. Slowest green I have ever played. Fairways were not cut. Constantly looking for my own ball on fairway. Too much fallen leaves. I lost many balls in rough and fairway. Too many golfers because back 9 were closed. It was complete waist of my time and money. If I knew the back 9 were closed, I did not go there. I want my money back.
Forgotten & neglected course
The staff was pleasant and that was the highlight. The greens were burned up, bare spots, and poor at best. The fairways were terrible. The carts were the worst. Don't bother playing. You will regret it; we did.
Horrible golf course!
I played this course with my family on Sunday. This was the worst course I have ever played on. The whole course was weeds and leaves. You spend more time looking for balls because the fairways are so thick and full of weeds. The t-boxes are complete sand. The greens are almost all dirt and bumpy. Holes all over the greens. I would not even rate this a 1 star but I had to. i wouldn't recommend this course at all.
Skanky - seriously
The first words of every review are the most important.
As a result, I wanted to be as careful as possible not to taint the kindness of the people who golf here, the friendly young gal who greeted me at the pro shop on the day I decided to try this place out or possibly the many people who "tried" to make this an option in the Seattle area for golf.
However, I have to say the first word that came to mind after I started walking into the fairway of hole #1 was "skanky." As I was driving home, I told myself I would look up the definition of the word to make sure that by no means that it would be derogatory or degrading by any means. Merriam-Webster defines it as:
1 slang :repugnantly filthy or squalid
AND
2 slang :of low or sleazy character
It's definitely not the 2nd definition, but after I upload the photos I managed to take before walking off the course after 9, you might just agree it matches the definition.
On this beautiful Sunday in late Sunday, I was greeted by 6 kind young men who let me "play through." They knew they would take a bit of time and gave me the chance to finish before I puked in disgust. I was helped by 2 other groups of kind folks who also let me play through and despite the 2-5 balls I would hit on each of the front 9 holes, I got it done in record time.
Now, bear in mind, I like good courses. I used to be a member of Sahalee and I've learned over time, since golf takes up quite a bit of time, you should choose carefully.
When I was inspired to play this past weekend, I had no idea why this course that was priced at $54 a round could be priced at $23. It seemed like a rare opportunity. There were most tee times in the $40's and $50's and I thought I was just lucky.
However, all my golfing buddies along with me had never heard of this place.
I now know why.
Beyond fairways that remind me of the worst cut lawns in our area, the greens are basically well trimmed roughs posing as the end of the hole. Using your putter is a waste because the "green" has balls bouncing all the way to the hole. You might as well chip.
There were many trenches around greens.
There were blackberry bushes lining hole 9 for 300 yards.
And there was the clubhouse that had an arrow that pointed to the left, but should have pointed upwards since the pro shop was on the 2nd floor.
Either the owner(s) of this place don't care or they simply don't know what golf is.
At all costs, if you care about golf, you might want to truly reconsider if you decide and "take a chance" on this place.
However, with all this said, this is a PERFECT place for anyone who is wanting to literally "learn the game" or "practice with your 5 year olds" or even take 5 strokes for every shot.
I might leave my putter at home though.
And make sure you bring a ton of balls...then again, you might find a ton while playing the holes adjacent to the driving range.
Speaking of, the range might be the best thing next to the kind people playing and working here. It's off the grass (from what I saw). However, driving 30 minutes in from downtown Issaquah isn't worth it, in my mind.
Sorry folks, but for the sake of your employees and the future people who might "take a chance:"
Start maintaining this course or take it off the list of golf courses in Seattle.
Seriously.
Terrible conditions
Most of the greens are in rough shape, the course fairways are in terrible shape, lost a few balls in the middle of fairways because of holes in them.
Greens are truly bad
The worst conditions on the greens I have seen in 4 years playing the course. Dead, dry and not much fun. They do now have electric carts, which is a real plus.
and oldie but goodie
First I would like to say thank you too the new owners, anyone who puts their time, effort and money into keeping a golf course around is something we all should appreciate and admire, cause once they bulldoze, its gone forever. I began golfing here in 1984 when it was the Carnation golf course, the holes are the same except they switched the 9s and made the 438 yrd 12th (old 3rd) a par 5(was a 4). I like the layout and it played fast and brown, just like its supposed too. but the greens were slower and softer than the way they should of been so was expecting hard holding greens but got soft receptacle ones which was kinda strange but its very beautiful with no houses around the course and i will return
9 Holes at Blue Heron with my wife
The price was excellent and included a cart. We played at a time when the course was not to busy so play was nice and quick. We had a very nice time.
Disappointed in Condition
The course conditions have steadily deteriorated since Blue Heron was re-opened under new management a few years ago. It appears management has gone from aggressively improving the course to now neglecting it. The tee boxes are more dirt than grass, some of the greens have large browned-out patches, and the rough is littered with brown clumps of mowed grass.
The only positive was the brisk pace of play due to an almost deserted course on a beautiful Spring day.
Average
Average course nothing exciting. The ruff was brutal, (long)any ball an inch off the fairway was tough to find. Tons of grass clippings everywhere hiding balls as well. On a positive note, the staff was super friendly.
5 Players in front of us...on a Holiday Weekend!
When did Blue Heron change the rules from 4 players at a t-time to 5 players? I could see this if it was a Tuesday afternoon, but on a Monday of a 3-day weekend? Really? The guys were nice and let us play through at the 12th hole, but what about the first 12 holes, where we had to wait every single hole. Also, they leave their grass clippings to the side of the fairway, which makes it impossible to find your ball if you hit it outside of the fairway, even 2 feet. The greens really need attention. On the upside, the staff are very friendly, and they have good food.
"their are blackberry bushes lining the 9th hole for 300 yards" so do not hit it in the blackberry bushes, their is a wide open fairway to the right?